The Newcastle Knights have secured a return to finals football following a 36-26 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at home. This win marks a significant turnaround for the team, which was considered wooden spoon contenders last year.
The match saw a warm reception for both sides, with Tyson Frizell leading the Knights onto the pitch, celebrating his 300th NRL game. Despite their differing positions on the ladder, the game was crucial for both teams, with Newcastle aiming for a home semi-final and the Titans needing a win to avoid the wooden spoon.
Knights’ Early Dominance and Titans’ Resilience
The Knights opened the scoring early in the game. After an initial try was disallowed, Dane Gagai scored the first points for Newcastle. Fletcher Hunt then contributed to extending the lead, batting the ball back to Trey Mooney, which led to Greg Marzhew scoring.
Head coach Justin Holbrook acknowledged a concern about early complacency, noting that the Knights have often scored early in matches only to allow opponents back into the game. However, Newcastle continued to build their lead, with Mat Croker and Trey Mooney combining, and Gagai securing his second try of the match.
The Titans, despite a challenging start, began to gain momentum. Josh Hannay, the Titans’ head coach, described the initial 20 minutes as “unacceptable,” citing a lack of discipline, penalties, and six-agains that forced his team to defend their line repeatedly. However, Beau Fermor scored for the Titans, followed by Jayden Campbell, narrowing the gap to just six points at halftime.
The second half began with a setback for Newcastle as Gagai left the field due to a hamstring injury, leading to a debut for Toby Winter. Captain Kalyn Ponga commented on Winter’s performance, stating that he “didn’t look out of place.” The Titans had a try disallowed, and a linebreak from Ponga led to Hunt scoring for the Knights.
The Titans continued to fight, with Lachlan Ilias delivering a short-ball to Kurtis Morrin for a try. However, Fletcher Sharpe scored a notable solo try from over 60 metres out, breaking multiple tackles. Marzhew and Sharpe both secured doubles in the closing moments of the game. Fermor also scored a second try, and a linebreak from Keano Kini set up Ilias for another try for the Titans.
Looking Ahead for Both Teams
The 36-26 scoreline means the Knights remain behind South Sydney on for-and-against. For the Titans, the loss leaves them concerned about a potential comeback from St George Illawarra over the final three rounds of the regular season.
Newcastle is scheduled to play Manly at home, followed by an away game against the Warriors in New Zealand to conclude their regular season. They will then have a final round bye before entering the finals. Holbrook, despite securing a finals spot, stated he is not looking beyond the upcoming matches.
The Knights have demonstrated strong attacking prowess and improved defence under Holbrook this season. However, their tendency to experience periods of complacency after scoring points remains a concern as they approach the finals. The Titans, despite their loss, showed glimpses of their potential, particularly in their ability to fight back after a difficult start.
Dominic Young has been a significant player against the Titans, scoring 11 tries in six matches, including two hat-tricks and a double. Marzhew is having a strong season with 19 tries in 20 games, while Sharpe has scored 32 tries in 45 games. Francis Manuleleua has also emerged as an exciting edge backrower, scoring eight times in eight games in the NSW Cup this year and contributing three assists in recent NRL matches.
The Knights have been particularly effective against lower-ranked teams and have a strong record in day games and after a win. The Titans, on the other hand, have struggled after losses of 20 or more points and in interstate day games.
The Knights’ next fixture is against Manly at home.
Source: foxsports.com.au
